The people of God ought to be the happiest in the world. People should be coming to us and asking the source of our joy and delight.
– A.W. Tozer
Paul’s First Trip to Philippi: Acts 16
10 years later he wrote this letter to their church…
Philippians 1:3-5
The seeds he planted 10 years earlier were a source of joy when he most needed it.
Philippians 1:9-11
Are we choosing what is excellent?
It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.
– C.S. Lewis
Philippians 1:12-18
How do you get there?
Philippians 1:18-21
“…to live is Christ, to die is gain.”
Today, we would say that living is about YOU, and dying is the end (defeat).
“Not only is God the supreme source of satisfaction for the human soul, but God himself is glorified by our being satisfied in him. Therefore, our pursuit of joy in him is essential.”
– John Piper
Suffering is a guarantee in any life.
Joy is only guaranteed in a life surrendered to Christ.
- Have you found the joy?
- What seeds are you planting?
- Are you choosing what’s excellent?
Church 29:11 